Any public official or employee who shall knowingly and willfully
permit any person to have access to or custody or possession of any portion of
a personnel file designated as confidential by this Article, unless such person
is one specifically authorized by G.S. 126-24 to have access thereto for
inspection and examination, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon
conviction shall only be fined in the discretion of the court but not in excess
of five hundred dollars ($500.00). (1975, c. 257, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 934; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s.
14(c).)